Deciding to get serious about the downtown parking situation, a jump from a $2 parking ticket to $10 per offense was discussed by the Pontiac City Council’s Community Services Committee at a meeting earlier this week.

“Too many employees are parking in downtown spots that should be available to customers. That is the number one complaint we hear from business owners and from residents who’d like to shop downtown,” said City Administrator Bob Karls. “The $2 ticket is just not a deterrent to people parking all day in the same spot.”

He said city employees have been monitoring the parking situation and one committee member researched parking fines in cities of comparable size.

“The fines ranged from $10 to $25,” Karls stated.

The committee reached a consensus to suggest to the council a $10 fine. The matter will be brought up for discussion only at the council’s next meeting on Monday, May 6.

“There will be no action taken at this meeting, but we’ll put it on the agenda for discussion.” Depending on the council, the matter may be brought back to the second May meeting for further discussion or action.

“This problem has been going on for several years. We have to do something. Our goal is not to collect any money, but to get people to abide by parking rules. There are plenty of perimeter parking lots and spaces that are not being used,” Karls said.

The municipal lots at City Hall and by the Dargan building at the corner of Mill and Water streets are all-day free lots, as is the new lot by the Law and Justice Center on Chicago Street.

“We also may look at lifting some two-hour parking restrictions on some perimeter streets to help get the parking situation in hand.”

Karls said customers who cannot find a parking place will eventually take their business elsewhere. “Employees may not realize they are hurting business for their own establishments as well as others, but if customers quit coming, how long will that business be there?”

He stated the city’s goal is to provide a good downtown experience for shoppers. If the higher ticket cost is approved and doesn’t help, he said a higher fine might be set.

“The committee feels this is a first big step and we hope it will be the answer to the problem if approved.”

The city administrator also noted that if the city council agrees to this measure at the May 20 meeting, new signs will have to be erected giving parkers plenty of warning before it would go into effect.

“We don’t want someone coming downtown to be surprised by the increase of the ticket amount. We would put up signs notifying drivers of the change.”

Page 2 of 2 - The city council meetings are held in council chambers beginning at 7 p.m.